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KATHLEEN ANN MCLEOD
Born: Jan 18, 1929
Date of Passing: Mar 18, 2024
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryKATHLEEN ANN MCLEOD
“Work is love made visible”
- Kahlil Gibran
Our mother was a woman of grace, faith and dignity. Deeply spiritual, she found delight and nourishment in art, nature, poetry, friendships and family. Now reunited with Charlie, her beloved husband of over 70 years, we know that she rests in peace and love. We mourn with sorrow and remember with love and devotion.
Kathie was born at the old Grace Hospital to Gavin and Sarah Adeline Baird who had walked two blocks following a Winnipeg blizzard to meet the taxi that wouldn’t risk coming up the snowy street. She lived most of her life in Winnipeg, attending Robert H. Smith, Grosvenor and Kelvin schools where she made lifelong and cherished friendships.
She often described her time at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Home Economics, as ‘four great years’, although convocation was cancelled due to Manitoba’s great flood of 1950. Following graduation, Kathie worked for Dr. Patrick MacDonald as an early cancer researcher. Her work included preparing an excerpt of his research that examined the effects of stress on health and the body – an interesting avenue of investigation that is still active today.
It was during her time at U of M that The Very Reverend Hugh A. McLeod began his service as the minister at Knox United Church and mum met the minister’s son Charlie for the first time; it wasn’t until a few years later when they met again that she knew he was her Beezee. They were married on February 7, 1953, and moved to Hagersville, Ontario, where daughter Angela was born in November. The young family moved back to Winnipeg, with son Gordon and daughter Martha both born in Winnipeg in the early 1960s. It was only after a second move to Ontario, this time to Toronto in the early 1970s, that the McLeods returned to settle permanently in Winnipeg.
Kathie was a lifelong member of Knox United Church and was active in the choir and with the United Church Women. Her service to her church included sharing her love of nature and art as she organized the flowers for the church for over 20 years and embroidered several stoles for the clergy and hangings for use in the sanctuary.
Mum’s connection with Spirit was deeply personal; she said that when she’d start to prepare a new creation, she would pray to “God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or something else totally different: Help me God. Show me how best to prepare what I want to say about life and to show people that I love them.”
She was well known for her beautiful needlework into which she incorporated natural elements like plants and shells. She studied her craft with Jo Hewitt, who, in addition to developing her proficiency at embroidery, also led Kathie to her axioms for a good life, ‘It’s not what I thought - but just leave it for awhile and see how it sits’ and ‘if something isn’t working as well as it should - try something else’.
Mum loved cheeky limericks, summers on Mackies Island, Lake of the Woods, birds, and flowers, picking stones on the beach, and her two miniature Schnauzers Sam and Rupert.
She was predeceased by her dear husband Charles Alexander McLeod in April 2023, father Gavin Gibson Baird and mother Sara Adeline Baird (nee Gaskin), sister Angela (John Graham) and brother Gavin David (Lydia Shevchuk).
Kathleen is sorely missed and remembered with love by her children, Angela (Wayne Rosin), Gordon, and Martha (Ian Stewart); and grandchildren, David Rosin (Zhanni Weber), Aynsley Rosin (Mike McDonald) and Samuel McLeod, as well as many beloved nieces, and nephews.
Mum saw butterflies as a symbol of hope of things to come; we’ll recognize her spirit when one flutters by.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 30, 2024, Mar 30, 2024
Condolences & Memories (5 entries)
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Kathie and Charlie McLeod were the closest dearest friends to my parents. We, as a family, have many great memories of spending time with them both. Kathie was a sensitive, kind and wonderful Lady. I send my deepest sympathies and Love to the remaining Family, Angie, Wayne and Martha and their families. I for one will look for butterflies and remember Kathie, Love Susan - Posted by: Susan Edmond (Long time Family friend ) on: Mar 30, 2024
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My sympathy to Angela, Gordon and Martha. Your mother was a gracious, Lovely person and part of the Beaver Lumber family. The other day I found the two page handwritten letter Charlie, your Dad, sent to my mother after my father's death in 2014. Now all four of them are gone. There were strong bonds between our mothers as a result of the demands the Beaver Lumber company placed upon our fathers. I used to drop in for short visits with your parents with my son Rory, a student at Robert H. Smith, when Kathleen and Charlie lived on Cambridge Avenue. My own parents did stay in Oakville so Rory saw very little of his grandparents, but Charlie and Kathleen treated him as if he was one of their own, which I appreciated. Shelley G Mitchell. - Posted by: Shelley Gay Mitchell (friend, eldest daughter of Keith and Elinor Mitchell ) on: Mar 30, 2024
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Such a lovely, kind and soft spoken lady. We sang together in the Knox Choir for many years and I will always remember her many kindnesses to myself and my family. We had a mutual appreciation of embroidery and her framed wall crewel work was so amazing. A beautiful soul. - Posted by: Eileen Findlay (Friend) on: Mar 30, 2024
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Deepest sympathy in the loss of your mom. Please be assured of my prayers and thoughts. - Posted by: Charlette Novak (Cousin) on: Mar 30, 2024
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My sincere condolences to Angela, Gord and Martha on the loss of your Mom. I have fond memories of her and all of you, as we all grew up on Assiniboine Crescent. May God be your strength and hold you close at this difficult time. - Posted by: Susan McEwen (Former neighbour ) on: Mar 30, 2024
